2019

November 3, 2019 by The Rev Ken Wratten

11/03/2019
All Saints Sunday; Yr C

Recognizing today as All Saints’ Sunday is an optional observance on our church’s liturgical calendar. We could choose to still have green vestments and hangings, and this would just be the 21st Sunday after Pentecost, part of the long green season in the church. In most protestant churches, this day goes quietly unnoticed. But to me it is one of the most important and meaningful services of the year. And so we use the liturgical color white – the color used to honor saints; and our music and lessons and prayers today focus on those who have come before us.

Pentecost 20C Proper 25: 10/27/2019

October 27, 2019 by The Rev Ken Wratten

10/27/2019
Pentecost 20; Yr C

In today’s Gospel reading from Luke the Pharisee in Jesus’ parable said, “God, I thank you that I am not like other people.” This parable is not about the Pharisee showing off, or lacking in humility. He really believes that his good, virtuous deeds, following and even exceeding the letter of the law, is enough to please God. He believes that if everybody lived like he did, all would be right with the world. What God says through the teaching of Jesus Christ is that human goodness is not enough. Human goodness by itself cannot fix this broken world.

Pentecost 19C Proper 24: 10/20/2019

October 20, 2019 by The Rev Ken Wratten

10/20/2019
Pentecost 19; Yr C

In the Gospel lesson today, Jesus told the story of the Unjust Judge and the Persistent Widow to illustrate our need for persistence in prayer. The woman would not give up from pleading for justice.

I understand the feelings of the persistent widow; the feeling that nobody was listening to her.

Pentecost 18C Proper 23: 10/13/2019

October 13, 2019 by Rev Ardyss Golden

10/13/2019
Pentecost 18; Yr C

Reverend Ardyss explores the 2nd Kings story of Naaman the leper, and the Gospel lesson in Luke of ten lepers, to give us insight into the character values of Humility and Gratitude.

Pentecost 16C Proper 21: 9/29/2019

September 29, 2019 by The Rev Ken Wratten

9/29/2019
Pentecost 16; Yr C

Amos: The revelry of the loungers shall pass away – a call to not be complacent when all is going well. Paul: Be ready to share, rich in good works – the life that really is life. Jesus: a parable about failure to care for others when we can.?

Pentecost 15C Proper 20: 9/22/2019

September 23, 2019 by The Rev Ken Wratten

9/22/2019
Pentecost 15; Yr C

The story in today’s Gospel reading is called the Parable of the Shrewd Manager. Was Jesus recommending that we act like the manager? Is Jesus charging us to use whatever means we need to, to justify the end of bringing people to God?

Pentecost 14C Proper 19: 9/15/2019

September 16, 2019 by The Rev Ken Wratten

9/15/2019
Pentecost 14; Yr C

Theme: We can leave the fold, we can get distracted and separated, but God comes to find us and bring us home. Our God’s kingdom is not complete until ALL the lost are found.

Pentecost 13C Proper 18: 9/8/2019

September 10, 2019 by Rev Ardyss Golden

9/8/2019
Pentecost 13; Yr C

Reverend Ardyss illustrates her experiences of being molded like clay, by the loving hands of God.

Pentecost 12C: Proper 17: 9/1/2019

September 1, 2019 by The Rev Ken Wratten

9/1/2019
Pentecost 12 Yr C: Proper 17

The lessons today speak to the dangers of pride, and the blessings of practicing humility.

Pentecost 11C: Proper 16: 8/25/2019

August 25, 2019 by The Rev Ken Wratten

8/25/2019
Pentecost 11 Yr C: Proper 16

In the Gospel reading today, Jesus performs another miraculous healing. The story also shows us yet another case of Jesus arguing with the religious leaders about their obsession with rules. The Pharisees took it quite literally that absolutely nothing that hinted of ‘work’ was to be done on the Sabbath; not even the work of healing somebody. Jesus saw that extreme interpretation as ludicrous, and he had no reservations about telling them so.

But there is another dimension to this story that has nothing to do with the Sabbath, and everything to do with the healing Jesus brings to US.